IT’S attractive menu suggests that 'Don GiovannCs" is all of a "sizzler". a "pizzeria", and an "Italian restaurant"': at any event, it is an extremely pleasant D1T-2 dining place. With red, white and green table-cloths, masses of foliage in the windows, cosmopolitan decor and — wonder of wonders — a 'Comments Book”, it i^a welcome addition to the small but growing number of rc-visitablc Gulshan restaurants.

The menu sets out" the offerings in clear English and, I presume, in excellent Italian: "Arrosto di Manzo", for example, is roast beef. The waiters - and this is is far from typical in Dhaka — actually understand what the menu means and cah answer English-speaking customers’ questions and give sensible advice.

It'.ts so nice for a change to lx: at a restaurant here that docs no serve rice. Good also to see several vegcta'rlan dlshcZ But, as I set Out to mingle some constructive criticisms amongst my praises, let me advocate (a) rion-smoklng amr (b) acceptance of credit • Ardi^and (c) the Miction of salt and pepper to their correct receptacles:

I have, earlier made favourabk- comments about the waiters — and I shall stick to what I have said. But surely people dining together should be served simultaneously. My delirious, hot soup arrived ten minutes before my companion's fresh seasonal salad. My main course plate was whisked away within seconds of the final — very tasty — shrimp reaching my lips, whilst the person sharing my table was just commencing her recently-arrived 'canneionT.

Despite, making It very clear that we wanted," No French frits, definitely no chipsl" they came. Final criticism: how can there be "Sorry, no fruit*. /a- few seconds • 'mvtnddbdul stumble, then- are mandarins, pineapples, pawpaws. grapes and apples in abundance?

Yet. as I hope 1 have Implied, the good ■ things at D.G.'s" (ar outweigh the less good. By 10 p.m. the tables were all occupied, and a lively, fairly noisy atmosphere was signifying that the dishes and the ambience were being appreciated. Enon the bill was a.pleasant surprise: a spk-ndid three-course dinner for iwo costing about as much as 'cappuccino' and "sfogtitelle' on the Via Veneto. 'Huth appetilo"!